The Daily Nole

FSU Football: 2018 Preview and Predictions

Mitch White/FSU athletics

The 2018 offseason was a roller coaster of change and discovery for Florida State. The honeymoon phase with new head coach Willie Taggart has stayed steady for more than six months at this point, and very soon the real tests will begin.

We here at The Daily Nole were excited to provide you with continuous offseason reading, and we’re even more excited to follow along the 2018 season under a new head coach. Our week-to-week coverage will change slightly, but we will still be providing previews and analysis of every game.

If you’ve missed any of our summer reading, there are links below which should get you caught up. We continue our yearly tradition of previewing/predicting the upcoming season, covering nearly every aspect you want to know about. Lead writer Clint Eiland and editor Mike Ferguson chime in.

FSU Football: Taggart’s Career is on the Upswing
FSU Football: Most Underrated Players Heading in to 2018
FSU Football: Benchmarks for the 2018 Season
FSU Football: Taggart vs. Opponents Based on Comparative Talent
Comeback Season: FSU Players Prime for Turnaround in 2018
FSU Football: The Case for and Against Deondre Francois as Starting QB
FSU Football: The Case for and Against James Blackman as Starting QB
FSU Football: The Case for and Against Bailey Hockman as Starting QB
The Weekly Nole Podcast

Now, to the award ceremony.

Offensive MVP

Clint and Mike: Cam Akers, a sophomore tailback, is the only returning starter that lived up to the hype in 2017. That’s not to say expectations around other players is misguided. Simply put, Akers will be the main back for 2018 and see his talents used to their fullest extent.

Defensive MVP

Clint: Brian Burns didn’t receive more attention last year because of a general defensive regression. Now the line is reloaded and under new management. That will help take some of the attention off Burns, allowing him to dominate his way to an All-American season.

Mike: Levonta Taylor didn’t get the attention he deserved last season and that trend has continued into the 2018 offseason for the junior cornerback from Virginia Beach. Taylor was a lockdown defender last season, who was rarely thrown at. With a slew of good quarterbacks including Ryan Finley, Josh Jackson and Eric Dungey on the schedule, Taylor’s presence will be felt throughout the ACC.

Offensive Breakout

Clint and Mike: Running back Khalan Laborn did not like getting redshirted last season. He’s going to come out angry in 2018 and seriously push Akers for reps at the running back spot. He’s shifty, explosive, and itching to prove himself.

Defensive Breakout

Clint: Josh Kaindoh accurately qualifies as a physical freak who needed more time to develop. Now he has a year under his belt and veterans on the defensive line to help him get adjusted to a starting role. By seasons end, it will be obvious why Kaindoh was the 10th overall recruit in his class.

Mike: Florida State has a number of talented but unproven players at linebacker. The one certainly ready to take the next step seems to be junior Dontavious Jackson. Jackson has made a limited number of plays in his career, but looks to be in great shape and to have fully bought in to new coordinator Harlon Barnett’s defense.

Most Glaring Question

Clint and Mike: Can Frey Work Magic?

If Florida State’s offensive line struggles in 2018, there is a very real chance the Seminoles could drop four games. A fast-paced offense only works if your line is able to withstand the tempo and give the running backs room to maneuver. Despite a fair amount of talent in the starting five, FSU has question marks at multiple spots. To help with this, Taggart hired Greg Frey, who has proven results at nearly every stop in his career. But how fast can the new offensive line coach turn that potential into actual competent play?

Bold Prediction

Clint: Two Freshman Receivers Eclipse 400 Yards

Willie Taggart has no qualms about using players early if they have enough talent to contribute. The 2018 receiver haul is a prime example, with players like Tre’Shaun Harrison, Jordan Young, and Warren Thompson highlighting an intriguing group. Early reports out of camp suggest that even lower-rated players like Keyshawn Helton are impressing the coaches. Given the lack of solidified starters at the position, it makes sense to think that at least two freshmen will find a way to crack the rotation.

Sophomore wide receiver D.J. Matthews came on late in 2017. (Colin Abbey/FSU athletics)

Mike: D.J. Matthews and Tamorrion Terry are Top Two Receivers

Florida State returns its leading receiver from last season in senior Nyqwan Murray, but in a new system, it’ll be the youngsters who shine the most. Murray will still be an integral part of the offense, but sophomore D.J. Matthews and Tamorrion Terry will emerge as the two biggest weapons for the Seminoles in the passing game, regardless of who the starting quarterback is. Matthews will probably have the most receptions while Terry replaces Auden Tate as the Seminoles’ premier target in the red zone.

Season Prediction

Clint and Mike: 9-3 (Losses to Miami, Clemson, and Notre Dame)

Florida State starts the season 5-0 and rockets into the top 15 before heading down to Coral Gables. It’s a close game, but the Hurricanes are able to squeak by thanks to home-field advantage. The Seminoles avoid an upset bid by Wake Forest and host the Clemson Tigers for a game that will decide the ACC Atlantic division. It’s a thrilling contest, but the Clemson defense is able to stymie the FSU offense enough to leave Doak Campbell Stadium with a victory. The final loss of the season comes to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend, where a banged up Seminoles team is unable to overcome a raucous crowd.

The Seminoles get a revenge game against Boston College and then shut down Florida’s offense in Tallahassee. They finish the regular season 9-3. Clint projects that FSU will play in the Belk Bowl. Mike has the Seminoles bound for the Russell Athletic Bowl in Orlando if they’re unable to sneak into a New Year’s Six bowl.

Playoff Prediction

Clint: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Washington

Alabama head coach Nick Saban does his thing. Trevor Lawrence and Tee Higgins are a monstrous combo for Clemson. Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh finally breaks through and rides an elite defense to a playoff spot. Washington head coach Chris Petersen has built a consistent contender in the northwest that will ride through the Pac-12 with minimal trouble.

Mike: Alabama, Clemson, Penn State, Georgia

For the second year in a row, the SEC gets two teams into the College Football Playoff after Alabama tops undefeated Georgia in the conference title game. Clemson and Penn State each slip up once, but both collect conference crowns and go on to the playoff. The Crimson Tide beat Georgia for a second straight game while Clemson again beats up on the Big Ten. The Tide and Tigers face one another for a fourth straight year in the College Football Playoff and a third time for the title with Nick Saban hoisting his sixth trophy with Alabama.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply